4 Possibilities for Why Your Drains Smell Bad

4 Possibilities for Why Your Drains Smell Bad

4 Possibilities for Why Your Drains Smell BadAre you dealing with a stinky drain? Are you tired of the bad smells wafting out every time you go near them? This is not a situation anyone wants to live with, yet it’s all too common. It may be an issue with your pipes, it may be a problem with a sewer line. In fact, there are many reasons you could detect a foul odor from your drains. Here are four of the most common reasons that drain smells bad.

  • The P-trap is dried

If you’ve ever looked under a sink then you’ve likely seen that curved pipe segment. It’s famous in movies as the place where engagement rings are found after they’ve accidentally been dropped down the drain. This section is actually called a p-trap, and it serves a very specific purpose: To trap water.

Why? Because having water trapped there keeps sewer gas from coming back up through your pipes. If you have a sink that isn’t used often, then that water will evaporate and the sewer gas can make its way inside your home. This is actually a very simple problem to fix and doesn’t require a call to Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing: Just run water down your drain for about a minute. This will fill up that p-trap, create a barrier again, and prevent sewer gas from getting into your home.

  • Your drain vent is blocked

There are vents within your drainage system that allow gas from the sewer to get out through pipes that lead to your roof. When working correctly, pressure won’t build up within your pipes. However, if the vents are blocked, then the pressure can force sewer gas up through your p-traps – even if they’re full of water – and into your house. If this is the case, then you’ll need a professional plumber to look in your vents and see what repairs are necessary.

  • You’re dealing with rotten material

This is often a problem with kitchen sinks. If you have too much organic material that builds up in your drainpipe walls, then it can start to decay. As you’d imagine the smell of decay can be quite foul. Once again, you’ll need to call Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing. By the time the decomposition gets bad enough that it causes a smell like that, you’ll want us to use our special drain cleaning tools to get completely rid of your home of the problem.

  • Your sewer line has been damaged

Of the four possibilities we’re listing for you today, this is the most serious issue: Damage to your sewer line. The real problem is that it can eventually lead to sewage backups in your home. If there’s a bad smell from every drain in your home, and you have a lot of clogs, then you don’t want to wait to call Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing. Let us come out and take care of the problem before it becomes an emergency.

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